Machine for forming metal tubes



(No Model.)

MACHIN No. 510,796.

W. KEG E FOR PORMI L T ente 0. 12, 1898.

Ii-L- mandrel.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KEGLER, OF BELLEVUE, IOWA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING METAL TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,796, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed April 11, 1892- Serial No. 428,667. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KEGLER, a citizen of the United States, r'esiding at Bellevue,

in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Metal Tubes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a machine for insuring the making of perfectly cylindrical sections of metal tubing, especially such as are used in chain pumps where the tubing is quite small in diameter, say from one and a half to two inches, and say, eight feet in length; and to accomplish this object it consists more particularly in a novel construction of the forming mandrel, the same being flattened backwardly from its forming groove a certain distance, on either an eccentric or cam curveor inclined line; also in certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the machine as it appears when placed in a horizontal position and looking down upon it; this view shows the exposed portion of the locking device in two positions, one being in dotted lines and the other in full lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same in the inclined position in which it is used, and as seen from the end W of the Fig. 3 is an end view, showing the movable lower clamping jaw and locking mechanism, swung on hinges from the clamping position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the mandrel as seen from its end W, after it has been reversed, end for end, and with the sheet metal shown by dotted lines in position upon it. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the sheet of metal as it appears after it is formed, and still in the machine. Fig. 6 shows a cross section of the sheet metal tube section as it appears after it is formed and removed from the mandrel, but before thehookinglaps or lips are brought together. Fig. 7 illustrates the appearance of the tube after the hooking lips or laps are brought together, but before they are pressed or hammered down. Fig. 8 illustrates the appearance of the tube after the lips are brought together and pressed. ,Fig. 9 is a cross section of the forming mandrel, taken.

through its center and as seen from its end W, after it has been reversed, end for end, and Fig. 10 is a broken perspective view of a portion of the base of the machine, and a portion of the clamping jaw, illustrating part of the means for locking it. Fig. 11 is a detail view of a portion of the forming mandrel and the eccentrically pivoted stop plate.

A in the drawings represents my improved machine for forming sheet metal tubing or piping, it comprising mainly a suitable base or support B provided about centrally of its width with alongitudinal semicircular groove or depression 19, which extends the entire length of the machine; alower clamping and shaping jaw I, an upper shaping device or jaw I and a revolving, nearly cylindrical forming mandrel 0, one end of said mandrel being circumferentially grooved at g, and said grooved end resting upon an eccentrically pivoted concaved bearing and stop plate J, the edge of said plate entering the groove g of the mandrel and holding the mandrel from longitudinal movement. This bearing plate J serves for elevating the end to of the mandrel at the time that its opposite end is thrown up for the purpose of withdrawing the shaped tube-section from the mandrel; it also serves for keeping the mandrel out of contact with the bottom surface of the groove 1), and also for preventing the mandrel moving longitudinally while the shaped tube is being withdrawn. This is a very useful feature of invention of my machine.

The device I serves as a shaping and forming anvil on which a hammering operation maybe performed when necessary. This device I may constitute an integral part of the base B, or it may be constructed separately and secured thereto. It is located on one side of the mandrel O, and, as shown, is in form of a slightly elevated rib extending out a proper distance beyond the front surface of the base B. In the topof this device, a depression 1), preferably of \I-shape, is formed, and by this means it is enabled to serve as an auxiliary shaping device or hammering anvil, while its lower edge is curved concentrically with the mandrel. At one end of this auxiliary shaping device or anvil, a downwardly extended gage stop E is provided, said device having its lower end concaved and arranged to overhang a portion of the mandrel and prevent the same moving outward and downward far enough to become accidentally moved out of the longitudinal groove 12 in the base 13, when the jaw I is ad justed as in Fig. 3 and the mandrel is raised for the purpose of slipping a formed or partly formed tube from it; but the principal purpose of this gage is to prevent the sheet metal being pushed too far into the machine, and thereby causing trouble, as will be hereinafter described.

On the base B, forward of the longitudinal groove 1), are provided two keeper recesses 71. provided with keeper plates h and adapted to receive the locking bolts h of a locking mechanism II applied on the clamping and shaping jaw-plate I. This clamping and shaping jaw plate is secured at its inner lower edge to the front side of the base'of the machine by hinges t', which permit an up-anddown-movement of the jaw plate in an arc of acircle; and it has its upper or front edge concaved to correspond to the shape of the mandrel.

To firmly hold the clamping jaw plate down in position upon the forming mandrel O, with sufficient space left between the same and the mandrel to perm it the mandrel to revolve and carry the sheet metal being formed around with it, the locking device H is provided. This device consists of a suitable operating lever handle it connected by a rod 7L2 to a horizontally movable operating bar 7L3 having secured to its ends, by means of arms, two angular locking bolts h which are passed through the locking jaw plate, their inner laterally bent ends resting in the keeper recesses M, and being adapted by their construction and arrangement, and through their connections, and by a downward pressure on the operating handle h, to be turned under the keeper plates h of the recesses h".

The operating lever handle h is pivoted near one end of the machine to the lower edge of the clamping and shaping jaw I, and is further loosely connected to the front of the said jaw by a rod or bar 7L6 jointed to an eye bolt h as shown.

The eccentrically pivoted stop plate J is fastened to the base of the machine and itis provided with a concaved recess or seat in its upper surface, and in this recess the mandrel fits, the inner edge of the stop entering the groove 9 formed in the forming mandrel near its end to; thus the mandrel is provided with a supporting bearing, and at the same time, is retained against longitudinal movement. The eccentric stop is free to swing on its pivot, and thus whenever the mandrel is moved outward in a downward direction it is caused by pressure of the mandrel to swing downward on its pivot far enough to allow of the mandrel being moveda considerable distance outward and downward with respect to the groove 1). By this means, provision is made for readily withdrawing the finished section of tubing from the mandrel without any obstruction or friction of the tubing against the base portion B. A stop j is provided for preventing the eccentric stop from moving too far on its pivot in mak ng theadjustment of the mandrel justdescrlbed. Ihe gage stop E is secured on the front of the base B at just such a distance from the end of the base as it is desired to have the sheet metal forced into the machine.

The forming mandrel is preferably made of hard steel, and is cylindrical in cross section except at a point near the groove, as will be presently described, and it 1s of any desired diameter and length, though for making tubing for chain pumps it wouldbe somewhat over eight feet in length, and from one and a half to one and three quarters inches in diameter. At its rear end it is provided with square surfaces 0' to receive a handle or other operating device. It is also provided with a longitudinal kerf or groove c cut a short distance on a horizontal plane into the same and running substantially the entire length of the mandrel. Into the kerf or groove 0 one end of the metal to be shaped is inserted and operated upon as will be presently described. Along the entire length of a small portion of the circumference of the mandrel, from and backward of the forming groove, the mandrel is flattened on a slightly eccentric or cam curve or incline. By pianing off a portion of the metal from the point Z to the point Z, as shown in Fig. 9, s0 as to form a depression below the ma or cylindrical portion of the mandrel equal to the thickness of a piece of sheet metal to be operated upon; this depression running back to nothing at Z. The object of flattenlng one side of the mandrel along the edge of the kerf 1s to effect the shaping of the metal to the form shown in Fig. 5 and the bending of the lips or laps on the edges, all in such a manner that, when the edges are hooked together, as shown in Fig. 7, and pressed close upon one another, as shown in Fig. 8, a section of tubing which is practically cylindrical in cross section is produced.

In Fig. 9 I have shown by dotted and full lines the outline of the mandrel as it would appear if it were not depressed on an eccentric or cam curve or incline on one of its sides. By planing or flattening a portion of the surface of the forming mandrel, just back of the kerf or groove therein, in the manner de' scribed, I avoid forming an abrupt shoulder, while, at the same time, I secure sulficient room by means of the gradual slope between the groove and the major concentric portion of the mandrel, for accommodating the lap which is formed on the respective edges of the tube, and by pressing down the metal on an eccentric curve, as herein described, to the extent of the thickness of the lapping portions on their respective edges, the edges and circumference of the tube, when the tube is finished, will occupy such positions that the tube will be a perfect circle all around on its inside and a true continuous circle, less the w1dth of the lap on the outside, the finished lap pro ecting slightly above the circular surface, as shown-in Fig. 8.

The manner of using my machine is as follows: The machine is supported, preferably, with its base portion in an inclined position, say about forty-five degrees from a horizontal line, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, as, in this pos1t1on,it can be most conveniently operated 5 the clamping jaw is unlocked and. raised, and one of the side edges of a'piece of sheet metal of the desired length and width to form a tube, say eight feet in length, and one and a half inches in diameter, is inserted in the kerf c of the mandrel, and the clamping and shaping jaw again lowered and locked. The mandrel is now turned in the direction of the arrow, a part of a revolution, sufficiently to only bend the edge of the metal to form one of the lips or laps. The mandrel is now turned back, the clamping jaw raised, and the piece of sheet metal, with the lip formed on it, removed. The other side edge of the metal is now placed in the kerf, the clamping jaw locked down, and the mandrel given a complete revolution in the direction of the arrow, and, when the motion is completed, the first formed lip or lap will rest directly in the V- shaped groove b of the auxiliary shaping device or anvil, and, if this lip or lap is not perfectly or fully formed, all imperfections can be removed by the operator further shaping 1t byhammering it into a form corresponding to the V-shaped projecting portion of the auxil ary shaping device. The clampingjaw is next raised, and the tube thus far formed is Withdrawn from the mandrel by raising the end to of the mandrel with the hand and also the end wand the eccentric bearing, and sliding the tube toward the end 20; the mandrel during the removal of the tube being held from longitudinal movement by the eccentric stop J seated in the concentric peripheral groove. The metal tube, as soon as slipped from the mandrel, takes the form shown in Fig. 6, the edges not overlapping each other but just touching each other, from the fact that the bend is not so firm in the machine as to cause it to retain its complete curve, and hence the metal will spring back about the width of the lips; the hooking lips or laps of the tubes are next interlocked, as shown in Fig. 7, and passed through another machine, and the laps thereby pressed together; thus are produced by my machine tube sections having neat, even joints or seams, which hold the tube edges together without the use of solder, and which are practically cylindrical.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a machine for forming metal tubes, the combination of a grooved base, a stationary device I, and hinged jaw I and a mandrel constructed and arranged to be revolved in the groove of the base, and having a longitudinal groove or kerf extending from end toend of the mandrel and with a flattened eccentric cam or inclined portion extending backward from the edge of the groove a suit-= able distance, said depressed'portion vanish ing until it unites with the major circular peripheral portion of the mandrel, whereby a truly circular tube with hooking'laps on its edges can be formed in the same machine substantially as described.

2. In combination with the mandrel, its supporting base and a clamping jaw, of the eccentrically pivoted swinging bearing plate, said mandrel having a peripheral groove and said plate entering said groove, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the supportingbase, a stationary jaw theclamping jaw, grooved revoluble mandrel the gage plate attached to said base and having a curved overhanging lower end, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a longitudinally grooved mandrel, the clamping jaw and the auxiliary finishing portion or jaw having an approximately V-shaped groove in its surface, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. Thelongitudinallygrooved mandrel having its rear end grooved transversely, in combination with an eccentrically pivoted con caved swinging supporting bearing, and with a swinging clamping plate or jaw, whereby facilities for removing the finished tube by adjusting the mandrel, are afforded, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for forming metal tubing, the combination of a suitable base, arevoluble mandrel provided with a longitudinal groove or kerf, alongitudinally V-shaped auxiliary former fixed along one side of said mandrel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a machine for forming metal tubing, the combination of a suitable base provided with a longitudinal recess, a revoluble forming mandrel seated in said recess and provided with a longitudinal kerf extending, practically, the entire length of the mandrel, a clamping jaw I and a clamping and looking mechanism H, which latter comprises an operating lever handle h connected to a longitudinally moving rod or bar h and to two or more angular bolts h, which bolts work in keeper recesses h in the base of the machine, whereby, by an upward movement of the lever handle, the bolts are drawn out of locking engagement with the keepers of the recesses, and by a downward movement of the handle the bolts are interlocked with the keepers of the said recesses, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KEGLER.

WVitnesses:

M. M. GADY, J. F. NELSON. 

